Chapter 2

Liam glanced at me, completely unconcerned.

“What did you just press? You didn’t call the cops for something so trivial, did you?”

He yanked the little bear pendant from my neck, staring at it closely for a moment.

Finding nothing suspicious, he tossed it on the floor and crushed it with his foot.

I reached for it, but my throat began to swell, and my movements became sluggish.

“I’m having an allergic reaction, hurry, give me the medicine!”

Chloe watched me, arms crossed, perfectly at ease.

“Stella, the princess, are you really that uncomfortable? Or are you just trying to get Liam’s attention?”

“It’s one thing when you usually find excuses to get Liam’s attention, but today’s Liam’s birthday. Can you please stop causing drama?”

It felt like someone was choking me, and I stared weakly at Chloe.

She and Liam were childhood sweethearts; they always called each other brother and sister.

Liam, worried I’d misunderstand, even explained to me, “I just see her as a sister. If there was anything between us, wouldn’t we have been together ages ago?”

Chloe, wanting to prove their innocence, even teased, “Only Stella would want an oblivious guy like Liam.”

I truly believed them, thinking their friendship was purely platonic.

But gradually, I started to notice things were off.

At every get-together, whenever Liam and I talked, she’d always subtly interrupt.

Then she’d switch to a topic only they understood, completely excluding me.

I’d just sit there, listening silently, unable to get a word in.

Then, she’d suddenly chime in,

“Stella, you’re not upset that Liam and I are having such a good time, are you?”

“Girl, we grew up together like siblings, don’t be so sensitive, okay?”

After realizing her malicious intent, I even brought it up to Liam.

But Liam just laughed, calling me petty.

Now, her blatant hostility was practically etched on her face.

“You’re all about the princess drama, but where’s your crown? Do you feel miserable if Liam isn’t fawning over you for even a day?”

“And now you’re deliberately faking an allergy to get Liam’s sympathy?”

Liam’s friends snickered mockingly.

“I’m genuinely allergic to cilantro, please, give me the medicine!”

I screamed, my voice raw.

The private room fell silent for a second, then a fresh wave of booming laughter erupted.

Amidst the chorus of jeers, Chloe’s voice was the loudest.

Her every word dripped with malice.

“Hahaha, she’s really getting into it now! Your acting deserves an award!”

“Liam, you’re not actually feeling sorry for her, are you?”

Before Liam could reply, his friends chimed in, mocking him.

“Oh no, pitying women brings bad luck for life, buddy!”

“Dude, don’t tell me this drama queen actually got to you? You can’t spoil a woman like that!”

Liam, provoked, completely abandoned any thought of intervening.

He tilted his head back, nose in the air.

“Who’s feeling sorry for her? I think she got off too easy!”

He kicked my leg.

“Stop faking it, or I’m seriously done with you!”

Seeing no reaction from me, he hesitated for a moment.

Just as he was about to step forward, Chloe stopped him.

“I told you she’s an incredible actress, Liam! You almost fell for it! Who gets a purple face from an allergy?”

I struggled to lift my head, desperately squeezing out a few words from my throat.

“The medicine… quick…”

Before I could finish, Chloe pressed my head down, then forcefully slapped my face twice.

Instantly, my face swelled up, turning crimson.

“Are you looking for this?”

She pulled out a small bottle of pills, poured the white tablets into her palm, and then playfully tossed them up and down.

My gaze followed the pills’ every movement.

“Give them… to me… now.”

My breath was weak, and I struggled to reach out and grab them.

But just as my fingers brushed the pills, Chloe suddenly pulled her arm back, stepping a few paces away.

I collapsed onto the nearby sofa, watching helplessly as Chloe dumped all the pills from her hand into an ashtray.

Then she poured some beer into it.

The white pills mixed with the murky liquid, swirling together, dark bubbles clinging to the sides of the glass.

I couldn’t help but dry heave a few times.